Steamed cloudy bay clams, crispy ham, chimichurri

Recipes

Steamed cloudy bay clams, crispy ham, chimichurri

By Michael Meredith

30 minutes Preparation time

3 minutes Cooking time

4 serves Serves

Share:

Ingredients

4 Cloudy Bay surf clams
50gm Jamón, roasted until crispy then roughly chopped

Chimichurri

250ml olive oil
4 cloves garlic, roasted and chopped
2 tablespoons Chardonnay vinegar
Salt to taste
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup fresh coriander leaves
¼ cup fresh oregano leaves
1 cup flat-leaf Italian parsley, stems removed

Method

Steamed cloudy bay clams

1. Place the clams into a perforated steam tray and place in Steam Oven.
2. Steam at 100°C for 3 minutes.
3. Remove the clams from Steam Oven and separate the meat from the shell. Reserve shells.

Chimichurri

1. Place all ingredients in a food processor. Pulse 2–3 times; scrape the mixture down the sides using a rubber spatula. Repeat the process until a thick sauce forms.

To serve

1. Place shells on a serving dish. Top shells with cooked clams and
tablespoons of chimichurri sauce.
2. Garnish with crispy Jamón.

Notes

• Chimichurri is a South American condiment/marinade perfect for
barbecued cuts of meat
• Jamón is a dry cured Spanish ham. Substitute with prosciutto if
unavailable

Applicance Functions

  • Steam
mm_chefseries__FillWzg1MCwxMTc0XQ.jpg

Michael Meredith

Michael Meredith is an acclaimed chef and restaurateur based in New Zealand. Born in Samoa, his earliest food memories are of his mother's pancake stall at a local market in Apia. His latest restaurant, Metita, which opened in late 2023, is a tribute to his late mother and is located in Auckland's SkyCity precinct. The menu at Metita offers a contemporary take on Polynesian and Pacific cuisine, inspired by his childhood. Throughout his career, Michael has been recognized for his inventive use of local and seasonal ingredients. He was the founding chef of The Grove in 2004, and later opened his own multi-award-winning restaurant, Merediths, which operated for a decade. He is also the owner of the Auckland eatery Mr Morris. Beyond his restaurants, Meredith has been involved in charitable projects. He was a co-founder of Eat My Lunch, a social enterprise that helps provide lunches to underprivileged children in New Zealand. He also lends his culinary skills to other causes, such as raising money for the Starship Children's Hospital.